Kobe Bryant content with Los Angeles Lakers’ efforts to improve

Kobe Bryant talks with Doug Young, a former teammate from Lower Merion High School, and current instructor at the Kobe Basketball Academy at UCSB, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The five-day camp focuses on the Flex offense, the Princeton offense and the Triangle offense. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/Los Angeles Daily News)

SANTA BARBARA — While Lakers Nation sits on pins and needles awaiting the decision of Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, and every other would-be savior to rescue them from despair, their leader advises everyone to chill.

Leave it to the most impatient of all Lakers to add a little bit of restraint to the moment.

Kobe Bryant, showing his practical side?

It sure seemed so Wednesday when he spoke to the media in this lovely beach community before kicking off his annual summer basketball camp.

And said he is absolutely on board with the Lakers’ efforts to improve the club so far this summer, is confident in the direction of Jim and Jeanie Buss and the rest of the front office, and is absolutely content with the short-term Plan A and the longer-term Plan B.

But if it should all be for naught and the Lakers come up empty in their big-game hunt, well, that can you do?

“It won’t be for a lack of effort.” he said.

No demands.

No criticism.

And no “get this done or you’re going to have to answer to me soon,” proclamations.

It was simply Bryant standing shoulder to shoulder with his Lakers bosses in a united front.

“They’re going for it. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. They’re being extremely aggressive.” Bryant said. “They have solid concepts and plans to get it done and are putting out all the stops to make sure we can put a contender on the floor next year. That’s all you can ask for.”

Yes, Bryant would love to play with Anthony, the free agent All-Star forward currently mulling offers from the Lakers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls.

Yes, he’s conveyed that exact message to Anthony during various conversations in which he extolled the virtues of playing for the Lakers and all that comes with playing and living in a market as ripe as Los Angeles.

And deep down, Bryant also understands how personally important the addition of a star as bright as Anthony is to him as he enters the September of his NBA years.

Adding Anthony gives Bryant a shot the next two seasons.

Not a great shot, mind you. And probably not strong enough to contend with the young guns popping up in Oklahoma City and Golden State and across the hall at Staples Center.

But a shot nonetheless.

Without him — or someone comparable — Bryant and the Lakers are looking at another dismal year next season and plenty of uncertainty beyond.

He needs Anthony, lest he spend the final two years of his illustrious career the main attraction on a rebuilding team.

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Far, far removed from the bright lights of championship runs.

But Bryant almost seemed at ease with the possibility of his final years playing out on the outside looking in, done in by a young roster lacking in big-time difference makers, salary cap rules that forbid big spenders from simply gobbling up the greatest stars and the conflicting windows of a rebuilding team and a star player in need of a more ready-made contender.

When Anthony or any other established star looks at the Lakers, they see a great history but maybe not a bright present. And while Bryant has tried to steer their thinking away from what is to what might be, he also understands that might not be enough to sway them to Los Angeles.

What’s important to him, though, is the Lakers are making the effort to improve.

That’s all he’s ever asked.

“Sometimes it doesn’t work out the way you wanted to,” Bryant said. “But at least the intention and commitment is there.”

It was a far cry from the Bryant who has scolded the Lakers at various points of his career, unconvinced they had the right plan in place to rebuild after trading Shaquille O’Neal, or last March when he seemed incredulous at the current state of affairs.

That isn’t to say he is giving up on next year. “I’ve never had patience. Why would that start now?” he said Wednesday.

But he also understands the roadblocks in place that might impede the rebuilding of the Lakers.

One that might render the final years of his career devoid of championship contention.

A younger Bryant probably has a different outlook.

But with age and maturity and five championship and an unquestioned legacy as one of the greats in the game now firmly in place, Bryant sees things differently.

It’s refreshing, actually.

The Lakers put their best foot forward with Anthony.

And Bryant is content with that, no matter what Anthony decides.

“That’s something I would be extremely proud of. We put forth the effort and gave it your best shot,” Bryant said. “But what can you do. You go from there.”